Glomus tumour: a rare differential diagnosis of bronchial obstruction in a smoker

Abstract

Tracheo-bronchial glomus tumours are rare, usually benign tumours of modified smooth muscle cells. They commonly present as non-specific respiratory symptoms of cough, dyspnoea or haemoptysis. Generally, glomus tumours are benign, but extension beyond the bronchial wall into surrounding soft tissues has been described. Surgical treatment remains the treatment of choice for tracheo-bronchial glomus tumours. Endobronchial therapy should be considered in patients unfit for surgical excision. We describe a patient with a glomus tumour of the left main bronchus, who presented with mediastinal shift and lung atelectasis, treated by left upper sleeve lobectomy. The resection was complete and the patient was discharged home after 8 days from surgery.